Spacer and bracer for commutator-necks.



H. H. RALSTON.

SPACER AND BRACER FOR OOMMUTATOR NEOKS.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. RALS'ION, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-CHALMERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE BULLOCK ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, JOINTLY.

SPACER AND BRACER FOR COMMUTATOR-NECKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, HOWARD H. RALsToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacers and Bracers for commutator-Necks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to commutator necks of dynamo-electric machines, and especially to means for bracing and spacing such necks.

In large dynamo-electric machines of the commutator type it is often necessary that the commutator necks be extremely long. As these necks are usually very slender and are supported only at their ends, they have a very pronounced tendency to vibrate. In the smaller machines the vibration is practically limited to a crosswise movement, 2'. e. a movement of the necks toward and from each other. This species of vibration has been largely or entirely overcome by putting spacers between adjacent commutator necks. In the large machines, however, where the commutator .necks are often several feet in length, it is found that there is also a tendency for the necks to vibrate edgewise, or axially of the armature. This edgewise vibration may sometimes be sufficient. to cause a relative displacement between adjacent commutator necks greater than the width of the spacers between said necks, and in such cases, and in case no spacers are used, the necks have a tendency to buckle so that they may engage with each other. So far as I am aware no means has heretofore been provided to prevent this edgewise vibration of the commutator necks.

It is the object of my present invention to provide such means.

The novel features of my invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a partial end view of the armature of a dynamo-electric machine in which the commutator necks are separated by my improved spacing and bracing device; Fig. 2 is a partial sectional development through the necks and the middle of the spacing and bracing device; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 1, 1907.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 386,653.

modification; and Fig. 4 is an outline end view of a complete commutator.

The commutator 10' of a dynamo-electric machine is connected to the armature windings 11 by the usual commutator necks 12 of any desired type. Between each pair of adjacent commutator necks 12 is placed one or more of my improved spacers and bracers 18. These spacers and bracers are preferably slightly tapered, and have the cross section best shown in Fig. 2, being of proper thickness to fill the space between two adjacent commutator necks at the desired point of support, and having shoulders 14 and 15 for engaging the opposite edges of the adjacent commutator necks. The spacers on each side of alternate commutator necks are fastened to said necks by means of rivets 16, preferably of fiber. The spacers as a whole form one or more complete rings as indicated in Fig. 4. By means of this construction, vibration of the commutator necks in any direction is prevented unless all the commutator necks vibrate in unison. But such vibration in unison is practically impossible, because, as the diflierent commutator necks will have different periods of vibration, the tendencies of the different commutator necks to vibrate will largely counteract one another and practically prevent vibration either crosswise or edgewisef Moreover the commutator necks will be less easily moved because they are so interbraced that they form in effect a single complete structure.

In the modification of Fig. 3 the spacers and bracers 13 are slightly different in shape. The tapering sides of the spacers are each grooved as shown, so that it has shoulders to grip both edges of both adjacent commutator necks. The action is practically the same as that of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In some cases the modification of Fig. 3 may be deemed preferable.

Many modifications may be made in the precise arrangements here shown and described and all such which come within the spirit and scope of my invention I aim to cover in the following claims.

What I claim as new is 1. In a dynamo-electric machine, a commutator, armature windings, commutator necks connecting said commutator and windings, and spacing blocks between adjacent commutator necks and interfitting therewith to prevent relative movement between adjacent commutator necks either edgewise or crosswise, said blocks extending less than the whole length of the necks and being carried by the necks.

2. In a dynamo-electric machine, a commutator, armature windings, commutator necks connecting said commutator and windings, and spacing and bracing blocks between adjacent commutator necks, said blocks extending less than the whole length of the necks, being carried by the necks, and being provided with shoulders which engage the edges of the commutator necks.

3. In a dynamo-electric machine, a commutator, armature windings, commutator necks connecting said commutator and windings, spacing blocks fitting between adjacent commutator necks, said blocks being provided with shoulders for engaging the edges of the commutator necks, and means for supporting said spacing blocks from alternate commutator necks.

4:. In a dynamo-electric machine, a commutator, armature windings, commutator necks connecting said commutator and -windings, spacing blocks fitting between said adjacent commutator necks to prevent relat ve edgewlse movement between adjacent commutator necks, and means whereby alternate commutator necks support the spacing blocks adjacent thereto.

5. In a dynamo-electric machine, a com mutator, armature windings, long commutator necks connecting said commutator and windings, and spacing blocks located inter adjacent commutator necks and intermediate their ends, said spaclng blocks formmg one or more complete rings and being so shaped that relative edgewise movement of the necks 1s prevented.

7. In a dynamo-electric machine, a commutator, armature wlndings, long commutator necks, spacing blocks fitting between adjacent commutator necks :their ends, said spacing blocks forming one tor more complete rings and being so shaped that relative movement of the necks is prevented.

intermediate In testimony whereof I aifix my signaiture, in the presence of two witnesses.

HOWVARD H. RALSTON.

Witnesses:

RUBY RALSTON, GEO. B. SOHLEY.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

